'Bankers' 120 million euro fine plunges oil sector into crisis! Workers of subcontractor company protest: We haven't received November salaries

A day after Bankers Petroleum announced that work on the Patos-Marinza oil wells has been blocked by order of Customs, about 150 workers of the subcontractor company "Global Energy" went on strike. They said they have not received their November salaries because "Bankers" has not settled financial obligations to the Kazakh-owned company "Global Energy".

"Production in the oil wells has stopped. There are no sales. We have not received our salaries. In our contract, we have to receive our salaries on the 12th of each month, today is the 16th and we still have not received our November salaries. We have asked our company but they tell us that they do not have the funds because Bankers has not paid the obligations," said the workers, emphasizing that "the protests will continue until they receive their salaries and are assured that work in the oilfield will continue."

The history of the fine dates back to 2019, when Fier Customs found that Chinese company Bankers Petroleum had not paid 30 million euros in excise duty on oil thinner. Inspectors fined the oil giant three times the value, bringing the total amount to 120 million euros. The fine was kept suspended since 2019 by order of former Finance Minister Anila Denaj, which was also based on a request from Energy Minister Belinda Balluku.

The fine has now been activated by the head of Customs Gent Gazheli, who has blocked the activity of "Bankers" in the oil field, until it pays the state the amount of 120 million euros. "Bankers Petroleum" warns that this decision risks dismissing 420 of its employees and about 5,000 employees of subcontractor companies. Also, 12 km of pipelines, oil storage tanks and over 1,000 oil wells may be damaged.

While Albanian Customs has not yet officially reacted, the company "Bankers" emphasizes in a media release that it has filed a criminal complaint with SPAK against state officials.

According to them, the decision on the fine is already time-barred, as over 5 years have passed without being executed by Customs.

shqiptarja.com

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